Senegal Football Federation Faces Scandal Over Team Doctor's Credentials and Financial Mismanagement

Following Senegal's disappointing exit from the 2026 World Cup after a 3-2 loss to Belgium, turmoil within the Senegal Football Federation continues to escalate. Federation President Abdoulaye Fall revealed at a press conference that the national team's doctor, who had served for about a decade, is actually a gynecologist by training rather than a sports medicine specialist. Fall stated, "Our chief doctor did not have the academic background required to support our athletes. I only recently discovered that Dr. Abdrahmane Fadior is a gynecologist by profession." He added that players lacked full trust in the doctor and felt uncomfortable relying on him for medical treatment.

Shortly after Fall's remarks, the Senegalese Sports Medicine Association defended Dr. Fadior, calling the accusations "baseless and defamatory." The association confirmed that although Fadior is trained as a gynecologist and obstetrician, he also holds a specialist certificate in sports medicine and biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. They noted that Fadior has been the team's chief physician since 2017, accompanying them to five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and three World Cups, and has served as a FIFA and CAF medical official at international matches. The association demanded a public apology from the federation and threatened legal action to protect the doctor's reputation.

This medical controversy is part of broader issues plaguing the Senegal Football Federation post-World Cup. Reports indicate that player bonuses for the Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers went unpaid for months, coach Papiss Cissé worked for about five months without a valid contract or salary, and senior officials allegedly flew family members and associates to the United States at the federation's expense. Once considered a promising team, Senegal was eliminated in the round of 32 by Belgium. Following the failure, coach Cissé was dismissed, and ongoing off-field scandals now threaten to overshadow the team's performance.

No official responses have been released yet regarding these developments.